Rouhani: We're Ready for Final Nuclear Talks

Permanent nuclear agreement is possible if the West is "honest and serious", says Iranian President.

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Elad Benari, 05/02/14 04:42

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani

Reuters

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday his country is ready for final nuclear talks with world powers, reports The Associated Press (AP).

The remarks came during a meeting with visiting Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt.

"We are fully ready for the final phase of talks and achieving their conclusion," the Iranian IRNA news agency quoted Rouhani as saying.

He said if the West is "honest and serious" then there is possibility of reaching an agreement.

The Swedish website The Local reported that Bildt said, during a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, that “if there is a good will on both sides a deal is possible within a very ambitious time scale of six months."

"It's not going to be easy and it requires a genuine will for compromises on both sides," Bildt said. "The benefits that are there for both sides are so obvious."

The six-month interim nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers went into effect on January 20.

Under the agreement, Iran committed to limit its uranium enrichment to five percent, halting production of 20 percent-enriched uranium. In return, the European Union and the United States have eased crippling economic sanctions on Iran.

Meanwhile, a French business delegation travelled to Tehran earlier this week for meetings with officials and business leaders.

The prospect of a relaxation of trade restrictions has whetted the appetite of French firms eager to win back business in a country of around 80 million people where some previously had extensive operations.